Its not so much that i dont rate him in praticular mate, i dont rate any of our defenders at all this season - they have all been poor as a unit.
Thats what surprises me about people focussing on strikers etc, when quite clearly on average we are scoring two a game but conceading just as many. Our deficincey hasnt been in creating or putting away chances, but rather giving teams chances against us. I have decided not to be hasty in writing of any of our players at the back this season, as there are mitigating circmstances - injuries, lack of consistencey in partnerships and the whole team being less solid. But for me i cant remember a season under Moyes where teams are gaurenteed 5 -10 chances against us and the defence as a unit (and often times individualls playing there) have been culpable and i include Johnny in that.
Like i say - they have all been slated at one stage or another praticularly Distin and Yobo - which for me is a bit harsh given the context. Yet the fact remains despite the whole team being open and a marked change in our style of play, individually there have been hugh errors in defence and poor performences that can not be excused and i include Johnny in that. His displays have been more encourgaeing then others, but i have noticed times he has been indecisive of wheather to go to the ball or the man, or has been cuaght flat footed or wildly out of position - he has done a lot of positive things also yet there is definitely room for improvement in his game as a defender. It is important not to mask over these areas of improvement becuase of his attributes in distribution or his vision. Our clean sheet record this season speaks for itself and i dont think any of our defenders desreve a pat on the back to be honest.
Which brings me to the point of why i would like to see him in a midfeild slot. The whole team has been far to open this season the majority of the goals scored against us this season have been on the counter if you look at them. Why? Becuase of how we play really. In pocession at times we can have as many as 8 outfeild players in forward positions leaving a massive amount of space infront of our two centre backs as the last men, often the full backs are cuaght to far forward and it leaves our centre halfs with a decsion to make to stick or cover - this can often happen when they are out numbered.
The truth is we play better when we play with an anchor midfeilder to gaurd against the counter - Carsley - Neville -Heitinga. Moyes tried to play Rodwell there at the start of the season but it didnt really happen for the lad, nor do i think its his best position. That role gives the team balance and a solidity and makes us less vulnerable on the counter.
As effective as Carsley and Neville have been playing there Heitinga has something that neither had which is high quality in distribution, and vison, combined with a natural tenacity and talismanic leadership qualites. He could be the evolution to that role we have all craved since we first uttered the word "Carleys replacement". Like Fellaini last season you can see the potential in him and im convinced he can be become a high quality player in that position, rather then just being a good centre half - which on what i have seen so far is all i think he may be at centre half. He could be the lynchpin of our team i beleive for years to come there.
That said i still dont think he is 65% the player he is going to be, he still has bags of development and potential to tap into for me - but its there.
